Courtesy: FIFA.com


Tension to the end in last 16

23 Sep 2016

THE DAY REPLAYED – There was drama and intrigue aplenty on the final day of last-16 fixtures at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016. One game above all had everything a futsal fan could wish for. Azerbaijan’s clash with Thailand in Medellin had acrobatics, goals galore and suspense right through into extra time, before the European side held their nerve to progress and set up a meeting with Portugal in the next round.

The match in Bucaramanga was equally nail-biting. Argentina passed up a number of opportunities to wrap up victory as Ukraine relied on their impressive goalkeeper to force extra time. Even he was unable to stem the tide completely, however, and the Albiceleste eventually prevailed to set up a quarter-final clash with Egypt.

The North African outfit’s passage to the last eight was equally uncertain, as they played out the round’s third highly dramatic encounter against Italy. The Pharaohs led three times, only to be pegged back on each occasion. They did not lose hope, however, and after their keeper pulled off some crucial stops, Egypt netted the decisive goal of a hard-fought match in the second period of extra time.

FIFA.com looks back over the day’s highlights.


Results
Thailand 8-13 Azerbaijan (AET)
Argentina 1-0 Ukraine (AET)
Italy 3-4 Egypt (AET)

Memorable moments

Fair play above all
After the equaliser had been scored, there was no time to waste. The ball needed to be placed on the centre spot immediately to build on the positive feeling – or so Italy’s Murilo Ferreira thought as he levelled things up at 1-1. Unfortunately for him, his foot had become entangled in the net and he could not get free. Help was at hand, though. In spite of his frustration at conceding, Egypt captain Mizo stepped in and not only helped him free of the net but also lifted him back onto his feet in a commendable gesture of fair play.

A wake-up call to savour
In a phase of the game during which very little was going right for Thailand, goalkeeper Katawut Hankampa threw the ball out to the opposing penalty area. Azerbaijan defender Gallo attempted to head clear, only to jump right underneath it. Seizing on the mistake, Suphawut Thueanklang expertly brought the ball down with his right foot, turned towards goal and chipped it from just a few yards out with his left, over the head of the onrushing goalkeeper Rovshan Huseynli and into the net to pull the score back to 2-1. A goal of technical brilliance, it proved to be a wake-up call for Azerbaijan and would eventually set them on their way to victory.

Grit those teeth, Ievgen
Ukraine’s Ievgen Ivaniak had missed his side’s last group game due to suspension, but he returned for the last-16 clash and made a notable contribution, stopping almost everything Argentina had to throw at him with a series of incredible saves. As he dived for the ball at the end of the second half, an opponent’s boot caught him square on the finger. The 33-year-old did not let that stop him, however, and he was back between the sticks after a healthy dose of cold spray. He continued to shake his hand violently due to the pain but gritted his teeth and bravely carried on, although he was ultimately powerless to stop the South Americans going through.

The stat
21 – The game between Thailand and Azerbaijan was pulsating to say the least. The 21 goals scored made it the highest-scoring knockout-round match in Futsal World Cup history, beating the previous record held by Brazil’s last-16 game with Panama in 2012, which the former won 16-0. Thursday’s encounter at the Coliseo Ivan de Bedout in Medellin was 7-7 at the end of normal time, a scoreline just two goals short of the aforementioned Brazil-Panama clash, and one that equalled the highest-ever score draw in normal time in a World Cup game. The last 7-7 stalemate at the Futsal World Cup was in a group match between Spain and Russia in Hong Kong in 1992.

The words
“It was an historic game, the best match of the World Cup so far. We carried on trying to keep things calm, but we weren’t able to. [But] Thailand eventually lost control of things and we capitalised on that.” Azerbaijan coach Miltinho

“I’d be 100% happy with the game – if we’d won it. My players absolutely wanted to be in the next round and they’re really frustrated now. That’s life, and that’s futsal. Life goes on and we’ll carry on working.” Ukraine coach Oleksandr Kosenko


Next matchday

Saturday 24 September (all times local)

Quarter-finals
Paraguay-Iran (15:30, Bucaramanga)
Russia-Spain (18:00, Cali)



Courtesy: FIFA.com


Emotions run high for Azerbaijan's Huseynli

23 Sep 2016

The emotion of the occasion proved too much for Azerbaijan keeper Rovshan Huseynli, who burst into tears after scoring his side’s final goal in their historic 13-8 extra-time win over Thailand in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016. “I couldn’t hold them back,” he explained afterwards, having regained his composure. “It just got too much for me. I’ve never scored before and I realised there and then that we’d won the match, though we need to start getting ready for our next date.”

Sadly for him, Huseynli will have to sit out Azerbaijan’s quarter-final match due to suspension, having picked up his second yellow card of the tournament against the Thais. “I felt this indescribable joy and this immense sadness at not being able to pull on the jersey against Portugal,” he said after having given his all in a thrilling encounter. The Azeris had seemed to be on course for an easy win after dominating the early exchanges and taking a 2-0 lead. Their Asian opponents roused from their slumber, however, and turned the tie around, taking a 6-4 lead at one stage.

“I felt tense but I was still confident we could come back and win,” explained Huseynli, who plays his club futsal for Araz Naxcivan MFK. “Thailand coming back into the game sort of pushed us on. Our concentration went up a notch.” The tension of the occasion also led to a terse exchange or two between the Azeri players. “That’s just part of the game. We’ve all got character and we don’t always hold back when we talk to each other,” he said in reference to his on-court spat with team-mate Fineo.


Paternal advice
The Thais also gave Huseynli plenty to ponder during the 50-minute encounter, peppering his goal but also missing twice from the second penalty mark. “I’m waiting for my father to give me his opinion now. He followed the match very closely, as if he were here. He was a goalkeeper too and I think we’ll be having a very nice chat,” added the 25-year-old custodian, speaking with the same air of calm that he usually shows on the court.

As he explained, however, he felt anything but calm during this game: “My heart was beating so fast and I was boiling inside. It’s a keeper’s job, though, to exude confidence and composure.”

In helping Azerbaijan reach the quarter-finals on their debut appearance at the world finals, Huseynli has shown that he can handle the big occasion. “It’s one of the high points of my career but I’ve had a few others too and I want to experience some more in the future. We can’t stop here,” he added, already turning his thoughts to the advice he will pass on to his replacement, whose task it will be to halt Portugal and their star man Ricardinho.



Courtesy: FIFA.com


The great glove debate

23 Sep 2016

Everybody knows the feeling of packing a bag for a kick-about with friends, only to arrive at the game and realise that you, the goalkeeper, have forgotten the gloves you so desperately need. Or is it possible to play without them? At the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016, some custodians currently use gloves but others do not. Is there a reason for that? What advantage could there be to playing with 'free' hands?

Upon closer inspection of the game, there are a few details that indicate that it does make sense to play without gloves. First of all, the futsal ball is slightly smaller than a regular football, making it easier to hold without needing the added grip of gloves. Furthermore, in futsal many shots are fired at speed from close range, so goalkeepers are only interested in keeping the ball out, rather than catching it, thereby reducing the danger of it slipping through their fingers.

Moreover, a futsal goalkeeper has much more involvement in the action. The ball has to be thrown out to a team-mate quickly and accurately, and doing so with bare hands is obviously a little easier. "I feel more comfortable without gloves," said Spain shot-stopper Paco Sedano. "I can't hold on to the ball as well when I wear gloves."


Old habits die hard
His Colombian counterpart Carlos Nanez echoed those sentiments: "Without gloves I have a much better feel for the ball when I put it back in play, when I throw it. It's just easier to be accurate." So why, then, do some goalkeepers still wear gloves?

Russia's Gustavo, considered among the best futsal goalkeepers in the world, is one of those who always uses them. "I grew up in Porto Alegre and we usually played outside," explained the 37-year-old. "When it was cold then I couldn't play without gloves. Now it's just something I'm used to, so I keep doing it."

Humans are creatures of habit - which are hard break once they have been established. Rabie Zaarie, Morocco's goalkeeper, agreed: "I grew up playing normal football on grass and always used gloves. Maybe it is actually better to play without them, but it's too late for me to change now."

Gaining experience
A great deal of training is required in order to change, but one man who has succeeded in doing so is Colombia's No1. "I started out playing 11-a-side and obviously wore gloves then," said Nanez. "After I'd tried out both options, I prefer not using them."

An effort to change is therefore certainly worthwhile, but ultimately it is up to each individual to determine their personal preference. Zaarie also brought up another interesting detail: "In Morocco it's normal to wear gloves. Maybe that shows that we still need to develop further."

Futsal as a whole is likewise still progressing. The sport's first World Cup only took place 27 years ago, while goalkeepers and their coaches still lack experience, a quality that can be gained by participating at future tournaments. And any fan who realises they have forgotten their gloves at a kick-about with friends can now say: 'I'll give it a try without them.'


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com